Major mints: Knidos, Halikarnassos, Stratonikaea; islands, Calyma, Kos, Rhodos. Carian satraps issued a series of coinage.

The southwest corner of Asia Minor, with the usual pattern of Greek cities on the coast and native settlements in the interior, this district was under Persian rule up to the conquest of Alexander. The only mints which issued coinage before Alexander were the cities on the islands, one or two coastal towns, and the Persian satraps.

The satrapal capital, Halikarnassos, was home to the historian Herodotus before he emigrated to a more congenial location, first at Salamis, then in Greece proper. Halikarnassos was the site of the Mausoleum, tomb of the satrap Mausolus (377-353 BC), erected his widow Artemisia II. The Mausoleum was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Stratonikaea, named for the Seleukid queen Stratonike, wife of Antiochus I, issued coins with a bust of Hecate as the main type. The underworld form of the moon-goddess, she was the patron of magic and enchantments, and a temple dedicated to her was a notable sight at this city..

The Persians installed satraps over this province after they conquered it. These satraps were independent in all but name, and their loyalty to Persia was tenuous at best. The first of note was Hekatomnos, whose capitol was at Mylasa; his successors moved it to Halikarnassos.

After the Roman conquest the city faded into insignificance, as indeed the entire province did with the exception of Rhodes. Halikarnassos did, however, issue one very curious coin under the Romans, however, which showed a portrait of Herodotos.